Let's talk about drummers

Let's talk about drummers
by Jason Jones

January 2024

Kris Myers is a tough one however you slice it. Shoulder surgery sidelined him for the latter half of 2023, but this week he returned to full time action behind the drum kit, as Umphrey’s McGee opened 2024 with shows at The Fillmore in Charlotte on January 11, 2024, and on January 12, at The Ritz in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Fans were elated to have Myers back atop his rightful throne, as was the band. Umphrey’s front man Brendan Bayliss called out the return of 'the hardest working man in show business' at both shows, saying that they were finally able to play songs that had to be shelved during Myers’ sabbatical. In fact, the band dug deep into the repertoire in the first shows back with Kris, resurrecting “Fenced In,” “Similar Skin,” “The Bottom Half,” “Dump City,” “Preamble,” “Mantis,” “2nd Self,” and “Make It Right” in Charlotte; while Raleigh saw them bust out “Out of Order,” “Walletsworth,” “Looks,” “Der Bluten Kat,” “Prowler,” and “Red” (King Crimson), which had not been played since 2017. 

The tour opener in Charlotte saw the second set conclude with “Wife Soup,” meaningful, as it was the first song written when Kris Myers joined the band in 2003. While he has played the lion’s share of UM shows, he is not a founding member. Original drummer, the late Mike Mirro, was with the group from 1998-2002, when he surprisingly departed to attend medical school, a move that left the remaining members in limbo and questioning their future. Eventually, percussionist Andy Farag was tasked with selecting a new drummer. Hundreds of audition tapes poured in and they ultimately settled on the first one they received, that of Kris Myers of the progressive jazz outfit Kick the Cat. 

Umphrey’s McGee traveled a unique path in filling the drummer position for six months of shows in 2023. Instead of canceling the dates or hiring a consistent fill-in or sliding percussionist Andy Farag over to the drum kit full time, the band elected to go with a drummer by committee approach, which saw them rotate in a series of all-star replacements. Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic), Ben Atkind (ElephantProof), and Mike Greenfield (Lotus) were each featured as the main drummer for several UM dates in 2023; but it was an all hands on deck approach to be certain, as Farag and guitarist Jake Cinninger were relied on to commandeer the drum stool for portions of most every show as well. 

In the “Umphrey’s Discussion” group on Facebook, it was stated that Duane Trucks was the only replacement who used his own kit (rather than Myers’ set up) while sitting in for some of the gigs. Trucks, nephew of the late Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks and brother of famed guitarist Derek Trucks, was arguably the most comfortable fit as a replacement, but he had the advantage of working experience, having stepped in for a longstanding, fan-favorite drummer once before. When the late Todd Nance took time away from Widespread Panic in 2014, Trucks was tapped as the substitute, initially for select dates, although he ultimately took over on a permanent basis two years later. 

On the other side of the coin, life gets real for rockstars like it does for the rest of us. Ben Atkind, who was absolutely stellar himself in holding it down for Myers, had a roller coaster 2023 in his own right. Not only did he have to adjust to playing the skins with UM on the fly, but he made his own surprising exit from Goose, of which he was a founding member. It's true that the music business gets wonky for everyone involved in it professionally for long enough, but it's important to remember that the beauty of the thing is the human element behind it all.

The other UM fill-in, Mike Greenfield, his band Lotus, and the whole music community suffered the unexpected and tragic loss of Lotus percussionist Chuck Morris (and his son Charley) who drowned following a boating accident in March of 2023. A giant loss such as the Morris family has endured is impactful well beyond the world of playing concerts. One can only imagine the pain of those who knew and worked intimately with Chuck, but the union of musicians in the wake of his and Charley's deaths, is evidence of the healing power of music. 

While there was never any doubt that Myers was returning to UM once his shoulder was rehabbed, it speaks to their success as a band that they were able to weather the storm with a little help from their friends, and welcome Kris back into the fold without a hitch this past week. It’s a testament to the people of Umphrey’s McGee, the band and the business operation, plus the music community at large, in handling his absence in a way that fostered togetherness and allowed everyone involved to move onward and upward despite life's challenges. 

It would be remiss not to mention the numerous other drumming guests who performed while Kris Myers recuperated. Umphrey's McGee stacked the lineup with opening bands and often coordinated with them in having their drummer play as a guest for a handful of tunes with them. They also took advantage of local resources, recruiting a few nearby and festival co-billing drummers to join them on stage as a guest during Myers’ hiatus. Special guests included Ilya Stemkovsky (Modern Drummer Magazine), Isaac Teel (Tauk), Claude Coleman, Jr. (Ween), Corey Fonville (Butcher Brown), Scotty Zwang (Ghost Light), Tanner Bardin (Eminence Ensemble), Jeremy Salken (Big Gigantic), Jason Bonham (Black Country Communion), Rod Elkins (Tyler Childers & The Food Stamps), Jack Ryan (Marcus King Band), Rory Dolan (Lespecial), and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater).

While it was a ton of fun watching the guest drummers take their swings with Umphrey’s McGee, it’s an impossible feat to replicate what Kris Myers brings to their sound, and something often felt lacking without him, whether it be comfortability, chemistry, or pure attitude. Despite the success of the experiment, Kris’ return brought things full circle. The timing, the rhythm, the fury, and the grace that make a Myers performance special were all back in spades, as Umphrey’s launched a pair of ragers to start the new year. <>

Photo credit: Jason Jones